Zach Runs Chicago

I have run a grand total of ONE time since crossing the finish line of the Chicago Marathon in October of last year. I know, I know, I'm disgusted with me too. So when I got Fleet Feet's notice about the Pi Day "Pi K" Fun Run this coming Monday evening (3.14 - PI DAY, get it?) it seemed like a pretty solid way to get back out on the running trail without getting myself up super early or registering for a timed race where I would embarrass myself. Also, my wife and I ran this race back in 2014 and had a great time. Plus, after an article I wrote for the Tribune about xkcd creator and all-around baller Randall Munroe speaking in Chicago at an Illinois Science Council (ISC) event , I know a little more about the organization behind the Pi Day Pi K and their mission. Quick excerpt from the Trib article: Founded in 2006 by nonscientist Monica Metzler (who also serves as executive director), the ISC was created to help engage adults in science and technology...

Great news for the Chicago running community! Fleet Feet Sports and RAM Racing just announced in a joint statement that they will "now have packet pickups for all our races at our own stores as well as at each others' stores, making it easier for all our participants to pick up their race packets closer to work or home." "As friendly competitors we were challenged on how much we could collaborate in serving the Windy City's endurance athletes," says the statement, signed by both Dave Zimmer and Steve Ginsburg. But based on recent changes the two say they can now "work together and blanket Chicagoland with the best retail, coaching and racing services conveniently located for everyone in the metropolitan area." Fleet Feet has six locations in the Chicagoland area and Running Away Multisport is in Deerfield. Zimmer and Ginsburg conclude by saying, "We will both continue to bring Chicagoland the highest caliber races and running eve...

Every year Newcity releases its annual Top 5 of Everything issue . There are lists for film, theater, design, music, nonsense and pretty much anything else we feel like throwing in there. And every year I include a few running lists. This year I threw in three (listed below). The issue hit newsstands last week but it's still available if you want a physical copy. Otherwise, check out the full list at the link above and here are my running lists: Top 5 Chicago Running Stores Fleet Feet Sports - Lincoln Square Fleet Feet Sports - Old Town New Balance - Lincoln Park Nike Running - Bucktown Universal Sole - Lakeview Top 5 Chicago 5K Races of 2014 Chi-Town Big Game 5K (February 2) Ravenswood Run (April 27) Run to Remember (May 3) Energizer Night Race (June 7) Oktoberfest 5K (September 18) Top 5 Chicago Races Longer Than a 5K of 2014 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle (March 30) Chi Town Half Marathon & 10K (April 6) Soldier Field 10 Mi...

What if for every mile you ran $1 was donated to charity?  Well, that's possible this week. Some back story: a few years ago when I lived in River North I found out about an organization called Back on My Feet , a national organization that "uses running to help those experiencing homelessness transform their own lives and achieve employment and independent living." The group I ran with was based out of the Lawson House YMCA but there are three locations across Chicago . Though I was only able to run with the group for a few months - in the dead of winter, no less - I found the entire experience inspiring. Not only are you getting a morning run in, but you're running with people who are looking to get "back on their feet" and are using the program as a method to make that happen. All this is to say that Fleet Feet Chicago is teaming up with Mizuno this week to support Back on My Feet. As you may know, the Elvis is Alive 5K - hosted by Fleet...

My running hair could use a little work The Tough Mudder is only a few weeks away and in terms of half marathon training (the Tough Mudder is only "10-12 miles" but I figure I should be able to at least do a half to compensate for the obstacles and the mud) I was supposed to run 11 miles today. I didn't do that. But I did do a little bit of what could be considered interval training (with a little imaginative considering). Making use of Chicago's crowded spring running calendar I scheduled two 5Ks back-to-back, leaving enough time to run from one to the other: Ravenswood Run (Hermitage and Wilson): 8:00am Phi Delta Chi 5K (Montrose Harbor): 9:30am Luckily, the first race started only about a mile from my house so I met my friend John at his place down the street at 7:30 and we jogged over to the starting line to get a little warm up in. As with most races put on by Fleet Feet, the gear check was easy, the corral system was clear and the takeoff was s...

The weekend is fast approaching and, if you read my guide to Running in Chicago on St. Paddy's Day you know there are actually a lot of race options this weekend. But there's also a precursor to St. Paddy's Day running that looks to be pretty fun (and a little nerdy): The Pi Day Pi K Fun Run . As a programmer with a compute science degree I'm especially excited for a race that benefits the Illinois Science Council - self-described as "a Chicago nonprofit promoting science and math." While I also think that the liberal and fine arts are hugely important (I'm not just a computer nerd - I have a theatre degree too! * ) I think that the sciences can always use a little more promotion in our day-to-day life (especially because we take so much of it for granted). The Illinois Science Council "was founded on the premise that understanding the scientific method and scientific discoveries is crucial to a well-rounded life." I couldn't agree m...

In case you weren't aware, registration for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon opens right now. So, if you're planning on running in October, and you weren't at the pre-registration unveiling last night at House of Blues, you better go sign up now. Seriously. Last year the race sold out in only six days. In 2011 it was 31 days... so if that same increase in registration is maintained, then according to my (very scientific) calculations, that means the 2013 marathon will sell out in only 28 hours. So if you're planning to run 26.2 miles through the streets of Chicago on October 13th, you have (according to my flawless math) between now and tomorrow at 4pm to register. Quick decision!

Brynn and I went to the " Eat & Run Experience " at Fleet Feet last night and it turned out to be an even better event than we expected. First of all, there were wayyyyy more people taking part in the running part than we expected - more than a hundred (maybe 150). We got taken out to the Benjamin Franklin statue in Lincoln Park to get ready for the run and Scott Jurek and Chris McDougall joined everyone around 6:30.  There was a moment of silence for Caballo Blanco and then we just started running. Scott and Chris (who was running barefoot) were just running in the pack along with everyone else. We ran next to Chris for a while and listened to him talk to people and basically just have a good time. When we turned around at Fullerton, Scott was waiting on the side of the trail giving everyone high-fives. It was just a really awesome run and a great experience. One thing: it was listed as a 4-mile run but ended up being just short of 2.5 (but who's counting right...